Means for controlling air conduits



Dec. 5, 1939. L. H. BINGHAM MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AIR CONDUITS Filed July 12, 1938 gig. 4. f

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INVENTOR 5h Patented Dec. 5, 1939 "UNITED ySTA-'15Et iie'TENT O-F-IF-ICE` l 'MEANS yrolt coN'raoLLING AIR ooNDUirs v Lawrence H. Bingham, Bayside, N. Y.

Appl'ieationsuly 12, 193s, vsmal No. 218,808

This invention relates `tofmeans for controlling theflow of -air through the conduits of air conditioning systemsy or similar conduits, and itis an object of the invention to provide a damper '25 for thispurpose, which 'may be mounted in and removed from a conduit vas a unit.

It has been the customary practice to control the flow of -air through the conduits 'of an air conditioning system `at a point adjacent tothe "i air conditioning apparatus and remote :trom'the registers in the conduits for discharging the conditioned air.. into the rooms of a building. Whether .the proper amount of' air 'is passing through a conduit'and entering a predetermined i room is dependent upon' the sizeof the room and the-temperature to be maintained therein, and c `is determined vat the register lof the conduit in saidroom by the use of :a velocimeter brother suitable instrument. By the practice of having 'the -means for controlling, suchas a damper Vin the conduit, at a point remote from'the point at which the owof air isfmea'sured, itis necessary Vvto constantlyr travel 'between'l said `points until the cor-rect amount vof 'air is discharged from the register. Thisregulating ofthe' dis charge of conditioned 'air atthev register yin each room of a building is called balancing' anair conditioning system, and Ithe balancing 'of fan air conditioning system "of an ordinary homeby the method. hereinbefore 4described willrequirethe servicesof two men for a full-Workingday I Itis another vobject `of the Vinvention 'to overcome the above `dis'ad-var-itage by providing control means for air conduits of conditioning sysand removed from the Adischargeopening 'at-the same time. v Y f It is a further object ofthe invention to provide air control -means in a'conduit adapted to be 'automatically actuated -to close 'the @conduit when' a re'rdevelops in' theJconduit. 'f

-fA still' further object'of the invention is to 5,0 provide air control means which will not *cause air eddies Iin-"partially closed positions.y 'f

Further objects and advantages-of thev invention-will be pointed out in the detailed description of the invention. l l

`In the drawing accompanying and'forming la.

of a conduit.

-16 Clainrlss.V (Cl. 137-161) part of this application, Figure l is an elevational View oi control means constituting an `embodiment of the invention and showing" the same in v normally open position looking from the interior Figure 2 is a sectional View `of a conduit'at the discharge or register portion thereof showing the control means'mounted adjacent to the discharge opening in the conduit and means to kactuate said control means below the discharge opening. 10

Figure 3 is a view similar toFigure 2 with portion yof the ydischarge opening broken away and showing the control means connected to a register and a portion of thev control means in position closing the conduit afterfire has "de- 15 veloped in the conduit. I Figure 4 is a fragmentary Icrosssectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on vthe line 4;-4 of Figure 2 lookingin the direction ofthe arrows, t0 show the pivotal and sliding mounting of a lpor- '2'0 tion of the control means.

Figure 5 is fragmentary prospective viewpf a portion of a carrier for the control means showing the pivotal and Aslidingl mounting of `the .control means thereon andan abutment for lim- Q5 iting the movement of 'the vcontrol means. v "In carrying out the invention, the embodiment lthereof is illustrated in the 'accompanying drawing in conjunction with a condu'itiV forming a part -of an air conditioning system andnof 'unin- /30 ammable material, such as sheetv metal, and

of rectangular shape in cross section having lone end 'arranged with a `laterally extending portion having an opening, as iat 'l in Figure 2, to 'constitute the discharge or outlet forythe. condi- 35 tioned air from or the air intake of an air conditioning apparatus, to which apparatus the opposite end of the conduit is adapted to 'be con# nected. in any suitable .-manner, not shown. The air conditioning apparatus will have as many o conduits as there are rooms-'tube conditioned. The discharge opening 'of each conduit is arranged with a laterally extendingflange 8 to facilitate bthe mounting of the discharge end of each conduit in the tva-1ly of a room and the 45 mounting in said opening of a'register 9 'having louvers lil to control the direction and amount lof flow of conditioned air from the conduit and a lateral'ange H to engage the flange' of the opening 'l and permit securing of the register 50 to the conduit, asby screws, not; shown.

The means to 'control .the flow of conditioned air from the body of the conduit'to the discharge opening is in 'the from o'fa hinged damper-comprising` a pair of plates l2, I3 of uninflammable 55 t material, such as sheet metal, and of a .width ment of the damper.

slightly less than the width of the conduit 6 to control the flow of air for the entire Width ofy the conduit Without interfering With the adjust- The plate I2 is shown to be of less length than the plate I3, but both plates may beof the same lengthwithout affecting thefunotion of the damper. The plates I2, I3 are pivotally connected to each other by flexible material shown in the draWingto be in thel form of a strip I4 of a length substantially the Width of the plates, but said pivotal connection may be formed 'of several narrowstrips of flexible material fixed at opposite edge portions to the adjoining marginal portions of the platesl I2, I3 at suitable spaced points of. said marginal y portions.

adjoining marginal portions oftheplates. I2, I3'

The hinge strip I 4 is secured to the by strips I5 of durable material and rivets I3, as shown in Figurel, the strips I5 preventing the f hinge tearing from the plates I2, I3. The hinge I4 isralso of inammable or fusible material, ysuch as fabric or fCellophane, whereby the hinge will be destroyed by a fire or intenseheat in the conduit and the plates I2, I3 separatedfor a purpose to be hereinafter described.

. .'Ihedamper plates I2, I3 are supported in the conduit 6 by a carrier comprising a sheet I'l of 'relatively stiff material, such' as metal, having the opposite side portions folded over'to form opposing grooves I8, the -sheet II being of a Width to position the folded sides thereof against the interior face of the side Walls of the conduit 6, as shown in Figure 1. The damper plate I3is slidably and pivotally mounted in the grooves I8 by pins I9 extending laterally from the opposite sides of the plate to engage the grooves i and secured in an arcuate groove 29 in the end portion of 'the platev I3 opposite the end arranged With the hinge I4 by any suitable means,

such as solder as shown at 2l in Figure 5; The engagement of the pins I9I inthe grooves I8 will permit. the grooved end 29 ofthe plate I3 j to move longitudinally of the carrier I'I and the 'to the folded over end 23 and plate l2 at spaced f end of the plate' I3 xed to the hinge .I4 to move transversely of the conduit 6. One end portion of the carrier sheet. I'I is arranged to pivotally support the damper plate I2 by a hinge of suitable form and shown as a strip 22 of flexible material,

such as fabric, having one longitudinal margin secured to 'the sheet I1 by clamping said portion in a folded over portion of the end of said sheet, as at 23, and the opposite longitudinal margin of the hingestrip 22 beingsecuredto the plate I2`by aJstrip 24 of durable material and rivets 25, as shown'in Figure l. j The hinge'22 may cornprise a series 'of narrow strips of material. fixed points, as pointed out in connection with the hinge I4. The length of the sheetI I'I yin assembled 'condition is substantially the same as the assembled damper, as'shown in Figures 1 and 42. and the` endportion of thesheet Il opposite the folded over endY portion 23 lisl arranged vWith a laterally extending flange 23 to engage the grooved Vend 29 of the damper plate I3 and limit the movement of said plate, as hereinafter described.'

. The damper carrier VI'I is supported onA the inner face of one of the longitudinal Walls of thev conduit in juxtaposed relation to said face with the. grooves IB and iiange 23 exposed. The

Vcarrier sheet may be lsecured to-` the conduitin any suitable manner and is shown in the present 'embodiment' as being .secured at, the. folded over folded end 23 of the The damper plates I2.

tained in juxtaposed relation to the sheet 'VI byv end 23 by rivets engaged in the Wall of the conduit, the sheet Il and the hinge 23, as shown at 21,.Whereby the sheet Il lis securedrto the conduit Wall and the hinge 22 is securedvto the sheet. Screws may be substituted for the rivets v2'I to permit the releasable `mounting of the damper in the conduit. In Figure 1the damper is shown mounted in a straightV section of the i conduit 6 remote from the register 9 and which may be adjacent to the .air conditioning apparatus in -accordance with the common practice hereinbefore described, yand in such latter case,

.the entire bodyl of the sheet Il is straight. -In

Figures 2 and 3, `the `damper is mounted at-the In Figure in and removed from the conduit as a lunit. The outlet 1 of theconduit 6 is of slightly greater height than the register v9 toA accommodate the l sheet. I l, as shown in-'Figures 2and3. w I. .4

I3 are vyieldinglymainal spring 29 releasably 'connected at one `end' to the plate I3 adjacent'the hinge I4, as at 39,with the opposite end releasablyconneeted'to an anchorage `which may bea portion' v3!- depending .CII

from the grooved end '2B .ofthe lsheet I'I-and having a lateral ear arranged to releasably engage saidbpposite end of the spring, as at i2. In

mounting the damper in a vertical Aportion of the conduit 6, as at the .outlet portion .-'Ixthe spring 29 is not essential in maintaining'fthe damper plates. I2, I3 ljuxtaposed Atov the carrier I'I, as the Weight'of said.. plates and the'fo'rce of gravity` will maintain lthe damper in 4such i position, and thepri'ncipal yfunction ofthe springv 29 in` such cases isy to urge the end of the plate I3 arranged with hinge I 4 toward the Wallof f the conduit opposite the' Wall to which the carrier I'I is juxtaposed. The purpose of thisY function of the'spring 29 is to automaticallyv close theconduit 6 from` the outlet -1 should a fire develop in the air conditioning apparatus and travel through the conduit, Which closing of the conduit Will 'prevent the re entering aroom through'A the outlet vvL This is accomplished by the re destroying the hinge I4. which is of inflammable material, and the spring 29 "actuating'th'e 'free end-of the damper plate I3 into position to'close the conduit, as shown in yFigure 3. In the Figure 3 disclosure of the invention, the vdamper was in position partially closingv thev passage ofthe conduit, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, .Whenfthe fire destroyed the hinge I4, `andby the actionof Vthe spring, the plate 'I3 Was positionedwith the groovedend 20 abutting thean'ge 26 andthe free end abutting the opposite Wallfof the conduit. i The automatic closing of the damper may be,`- performed by springs coiled around i the pins lil-having one end xedto the damper 1 plate I3 and the other ends engaging-the sheet I'I, so Ithat a yielding force-is exerted'on'the plate I3 to urge'the hingedend thereof from the 'sheet I'I when the hinge I4 is Adestroyed byre, instead of thexspring 29.. lThe, springs will not 'tactu'ate the .plates I2, I3 into' the passage .of the `conduit `Ii `unless the hinge Mis destroyedduetto the mounting .of ,the damper plates',.i2,f..l.3 Iat the opposite -ends thereof, as at I9 and 22.

In the normal .position of theA damper plates I2, 'I3, .juxtaposedto the carrier ITI, theV passage of .the conduit .5 4is fully .open-to the.outleti7 so that the full output of the air conditioning apparatus is delivered to theroom in which the register is located.V "Ifo regulate` vthe delivery of conditioned air' and reduce `the Lnormal flow thereof to the outlet 1, rthe hinged portion Id of the plates I2, rI3 is adjusted --toward @the opv posite -wall of the conduit and -into ythe passage by means adjustable from the exterior of the iiange 26 with the hinge I4 forming an angle,

as shown in the dotted line lposition of the damper in Figure 2. The adjusted positions of the damper plates into the passage of the conduit will notA cause eddies of Vair in said passage with resulting noise, as the inclining Wall and rounded angle formed by the hinge I4 will form a'stream line passage for the air passing to the outlet l. The adjustment of Ythe screw in a direction out of the conduit 8 will permit the damper plates I2, I3 to assume their normal position juxtaposed to the'sheet I1 by the force of gravityl or the spring 29. 4If the damper is mounted at the outlet portion 'I of the conduit, the adjustment screw 33 will be mounted adjacent to said outlet portion andthe portions of the anges, ii in mounting of the damper, as shown in Figures 2V and `3, the amount of air being discharged 4by the conduit is tested at the register 9, and if the amount is not correct, .the damper is adjusted by the screw 33 until the correct .amount is discharged, without leaving vthe register, which will save considerable time in' checking ,all the air outlets of a complete air conditioningsysteni.

The automa-tic closing Of the ,damper plate I3, when the hinge I4 has been destroyed by nre, may be accomplished by providing a Weight at the end `of the plate I3 vadjacent to the hinge I4, as by using a heavy strip I5, so that the Weight Will force said end of the plate into engagement with the Wall of the conduit opposite the wall on which the damper is mounted Without the use of springs.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a damper for air conduits, a plate pivotally mounted on a Wall of a conduit, a second plate pivotally and slidably mounted on the same Wall and pvotaliy connected to the first plate, and'means adjustably mounted on said wall of the conduit adapted to abut the rst plate and adjust the pivotal connection of the plates toward the opposite wall of the conduit.

`2. Ina `damper for nair conduits, :a plate pivotallymounted on a wall of a conduit, a second .plate pivotally4 and slidably mountedonthe same .Wall and pivotally 'connected to the first plate,

means .connected to one of said plates and the :conduit to yieldingly positionthe plates in juxtaposed relation to said wall, and means adjustably mounted on said wall of the conduit to abut the first plate and adjust-the pivotal connection of the plates toward the opposite Wall of the conduit against the force of thevyielding means, said yielding means adjusting the plates toward the wall on which they are mounted When the adjusting means is adjusted out of abutting rela'- vtion with the rst plate. f I

3. In a damper for air conduits,la plate pivotally mounted on a wall of a conduit, said wall of the conduit being arranged with opposed grooves at theadjacent walls, -a second plateV pivotally connected tottheriirst plate and having means slidingly and pivotally engaging the grooves, a spring connected to the conduit and second plate to urge the plates imposition juxtaposed to the conduit wall between the grooves thereof, and-means adjustably mounted in said conduit wall and adapted to abut the first plate and adjust the pivotal connection of the plates toward the wall of the conduit opposite the Wall grooves against `the `force' of relatively stiff material having grooves at'opposite sides and juxtaposed to said wall of the,

conduit adjacent to the mounting of the-plate with the grooves adjacent the walls adjoining the Wall to which the sheet is juxtaposed, a second plate having -means projecting from 'opposite sides thereof to slidingly andpivotally engage the grooves and pivotally connected to the rst plate, a spring connected'to thesheet and second plate adapted to urge the plates to a position juxtaposed to the sheet, and means adjustably mounted in the vjuxtaposed conduit Wall and sheet to abut the first plate and adapted to adjust `the pivotal connection of the plates toward the wall of the conduit oppositethe sheet to restrict the passage of air through the conduit.

5. A damper as claimed ,in -claim .4, wherein `the end of the sheet opposite the end adjacent the rst plate is arranged `with a lateral dange tolimit the movement of the second plate.

-6. lIn a damper for `air conduits, a plate of uninlammable material pivotally mounted at one end on la wall of a conduit, a second plate'of uninammable material slidably and pivotaily mounted at one end on said wall of the conduit, a hinge member of inflammable material connecting the free ends of the plates, and means, connected to the conduit vand second plate adapted to move the hinged end ofthe second plate toward the Wall of the conduit opposite the wall on' which the plates are mounted, burning of the inflammable hinge by a re in the conduit causing the disconnecting of the plates and said means to move and engage the hinged end of the second plate with the opposite wall of the conduit and close the conduit.

7. A damper for air conduits as claimed in claim 6, wherein the iniiammable hinge of the plates comprises a strip of flexible material xed at opposite portionsv to the free ends of the plates.

8. In a damper for air conduits, a plate pivotally mounted at one end on a Wall of a conduit,

Y said wall adjacent 'to the lmounting "ofthe plate `being arranged :with a" pair of: opposed ,grooves f i extending parallel and adjacent totheadjoining Walls of the conduit` anda lateral flange extending j between the ends of the grooves remote from themounting ofy the plate, ar secon'dplatev of unin-` `ilamrnablev materiahhaving means projecting from the sides at Aone end thereof to slidably and `pivotally-engage the grooves, a strip ofinflammable materialv xed tofthe free ends lof the plates to pivotally connect said plates, and a spring connected togtherconduit and second plate to urge the plates towardthe wallof the conduit varrangedwith the grooves and flange and urge the means `of the second plate engaged 'inV the grooves into engagement with the flange, burning of the.- inflammable strip by a re in the conduit causing the disconnecting -of the plates and the Kpositioning ofthe second plate across theconduit under the influence of the spring.

. 9. In a damper for air :conduits having laterally extending air openings, a sheet of relatively stiff material having grooves on oppositesides.

and a laterally extendingiend portion secured toma vportion of an airopening yof a conduit with f ,sheetadapted to position the plates in juxtaposed relation to the sheet between Vthe grooves and position the pivotally connected :end of the second plate to close the conduit from the opening whenthe flexible material-is parted between the plates.

10. A damper for air conduits havingv laterally extending. air openings as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexible material -is inflammable and is adapted to be parted by aA re inthe conduit, thev positioning of the second plate to j. closethe conduit preventing re passing through the openlng.

11. A damper for air conduits havinglaterally extending air openings as claimed in" claim 9, wherein the first plate is pivotallymounted on the lateral .end portion of the sheet by flexible materialxed at opposite portions to the` first plate and the lateral end portion of the sheet.

` 12. In a damper for air conduits having later- ,ally extending air openings as claimed in claim 9,

` plate toward the wall of the.- conduit opposite the sheet when `theflexible material is parted.-

-into the conduit .will adjust the pivotally connect- 'g ed ends. of the plates toward the opposite wall yof the vconduit and restrict the passage-'of `the conduit.

13. In a damper 'for air conduits having lateri5 ally extending air openings, a registerfor. regulating an opening of a conduit removably mountedin the opening, a sheet of relatively stiff material having groovesy atthev opposite sides rand a laterally extending end portion xed to the regel ister with the sheetv juxtaposed to the Wallof the conduit arranged with the opening, a plate' pivotally mounted on the laterally `extendingend portion of the sheet, a second plate having'jpins extendingv laterally from an end; portion of said s45 plate slidably and pivotally engaged in the. grooves of the sheet, flexible material xed -at `opposite l portions to the free ends ofthe platesfto pivotally connect the plates, and `a-screw 'adjustably mounted to extend through` the wall-of the cont.;

duit adjacent the opening and having aportion `the passage of the conduit. I

14. In a damper forvair conduits'havinglaterally extending air openings asclaimedin claim; 173,

. a, spring xed to the sheet and the `second platefgp adjacent the flexible material ;to,normkally posij tion the plates juxtaposed to the sheet and urge the end ofthe second p late-connected,` tof'the rst 15. In a damper for -air conduits,. aplate of uninammable material pivotally' mounted at- 1 one end on a wall' of a conduit, a second plate oi'- ond plate into `engagement with the opposite wall of the conduit to close the conduit. v v f 16. In a damper for air conduits, a. plate piv- 'otany mounted at one end 0n"a wa11 of a. pon- -duit, a second plate slidably and pivotally mountv'50 ed at one end on said wall ofthe conduit, and

va hinge vmember of fusiblel material connecting the free ends of theA plates, whereby fusing 4of the hinge member. by intense heat in the conduit l will cause the disconnecting of the plates and '55 the positioningof lthe hinged end of the .second plate into engagement with the oppositewall of the conduit to close the conduit.

yLAWRENCE H. entonar/Ll 60 

